The Bongo District Assembly has commended the Bongo District Civic Union (BODCU) for the implementation of Civic Rights and Responsibility Education Project in the area.
The Presiding Member and the District Planning Officer of the Assembly respectively Mr Emmanuel Nsoh Atindana and Mr Mumuni Damma said the presence of BODCU had increased people's awareness about their rights and responsibilities.
The two jointly made the recommendation during a stakeholders' workshop on Partnership on Good Governance and Human Rights.
It had as its theme "Civic Rights Education Project on Police Civilian Engagement," and was organized by BODCU and sponsored by Ibis West Africa, a Danish NGO working at promoting good Governance.
BODCU has been working in the Bongo District and educating the communities in the area on their civic rights and responsibilities.
The said since the implementation of the Civic Rights and the Responsibility Education Project in the district, the programme had assisted the Bongo Assembly in the smooth running of its administration.
They said people in the area now know that it is an obligation on them to pay taxes and levies to help the assembly provide social services for them", they said.
The two said the destruction of public properties, which used to be rampant in the area at the least provocation, had been reduced as many people now know that it was a violation of the law to destroy public property.
"The Project has also impacted positively on parents as they have been educated on their responsibilities to ensure that their children's welfare including sending them to school is adhered to."
Mr Atindana and Mr Damma appealed to members of BODCU to educate the people on the need to participate in communal labour.
The District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police George Tetteh Zutah, praised BODCU and said in the past police/community confrontation was very high in the district but this has reduced.
Mr Zunta said there were no more rampant mob attacks on police and civilians as it used to be which sometimes led to death and added that he was personally involved in the activities of BODCU where he educated civilians about the criminal code and the need to report human rights abuses to the law enforcement agencies.
He appealed to the general public to assist the police in the execution of its duties by volunteering information to the service and assured them that their confidentiality would be protected.
The President of BODCU, Mr. Pius Agunguma-Gaara, said the overall objective of the Project was to increase the awareness of citizens in the district about their civic rights and responsibilities so as to empower them to defend and demand their rights from the police at all times.